Former students and teachers at the San Antonio school where he spent two years with Teach for America recalled a conscientious educator, though there are questions about how big his classes were.

Together, they have pursued cases against the president’s enemies and protesters and amplified false claims of widespread election fraud, often citing thin evidence.

© Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times, via Getty Images

It was a showdown of sorts in West Texas as James Talarico and Ken Paxton appeared at dueling rallies on either side of a prairie-dog-filled city park.

© Doug Mills/The New York Times

Mr. Paxton, the Republican candidate for Senate in Texas, has taken about 350 trips outside of the state since he was sworn in as attorney general.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

On the trail, James Talarico, the Democratic Senate nominee, has increasingly gone after Mr. Musk, a critic of his who has given big to a group aligned with the Republican candidate, Ken Paxton.

© Eric Lee/The New York Times; Joel Angel Juarez/Reuters

The 44th president sharply criticized Mr. Trump, who hit back later in the day. Mr. Obama also assailed Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for governor of Ohio.

© Victor J. Blue for The New York Times

In an election that has often focused on the economy, Republican groups are featuring transgender issues in ads, portraying Democrats as extreme and out of touch.

© Angelina Katsanis for The New York Times

• Trump calls James a ‘TOTAL DISGRACE’ over anthem

• US president demands apology for pregame warm-up

• James helps Sixers erase 29-point deficit against Cavs

Donald Trump lashed out at NBA superstar LeBron James on Thursday for what he called disrespectful behavior during the playing of the national anthem.

Trump posted a video of the basketball legend making apparent warm-up movements while lined up with his Philadelphia 76ers teammates before their season opener against the New York Knicks on Tuesday.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

© Photograph: Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

© Photograph: Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

Government inspections showed overcharges as high as 39% on some items. The discount store giant was the subject of a 2025 investigation by the Guardian

Dollar General, the nation’s largest dollar-store chain, has agreed to a $1.875m deal to settle allegations that it “repeatedly and persistently” overcharged customers across New York state.

The New York attorney general’s office found that Dollar General often charged customers higher prices at checkout than the prices it promised on shelf labels, signs, advertising circulars and its mobile app. The state agency said one check of 114 items across multiple stores revealed overcharges on individual items as high as 26%, 38% and 39%.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images

© Photograph: Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images

© Photograph: Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Russian influence operations appear to be stepping up efforts to meddle in the midterms, according to intelligence officials. Most are targeting Democrats.

© Desiree Rios for The New York Times

Throughout his four terms in the Texas House, James Talarico has tried to balance his two political identities.

© Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Mayor Jackie Espinosa of Kissimmee, Fla., and her family received money from a grant program she helped create during the pandemic, the state attorney general said. She was arrested on Wednesday.

© TNS/ABACA, via Reuters

Some democracies seem caught in a trap: Spend more and risk market panic, or cut benefits and empower the far right.

© Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters

Neil M. Bush, a brother of former President George W. Bush, expressed “deep concern about Ken Paxton’s record” and said he voted for James Talarico, the Democrat running for Senate in Texas.

© Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle, via Getty Images

Mr. Hubbard, a 74-year-old teacher, was held for more than four years on what the State Department called fabricated charges.

© Moscow City Court Press Service

The move buys good will with President Trump while costing the President Vladimir V. Putin — who is wanted for war crimes — little.

© Moscow City Court, via Associated Press

• James makes winning Sixers debut as Knicks fall

• Gilgeous-Alexander scores 32 as Thunder beat Spurs

• Pistons erase 22-point deficit to stun Celtics

The Philadelphia 76ers sent an opening-night message that they intend to challenge the New York Knicks for the NBA title after adding LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, rallying for a 106-100 victory.

Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points and Brown had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in his first game since being acquired from Boston. James began his NBA-record 24th season with 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP

© Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP

© Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP

In Tarrant County, a fight over polling places has energized Democrats as Republicans seek to defend their grip on a longtime stronghold.

© The New York Times

The president called for the return of Stephen James Hubbard, a Michigan teacher seized from his home in Ukraine months after Russia invaded that country.

© Moscow City Court, via Reuters

The series of recent steps by the president that seem to favor Vladimir Putin reflect his intensifying desire to normalize the relationship with Moscow even if it means further undercutting Ukraine.

© Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times

The series of recent steps by the president that seem to favor Vladimir Putin reflect his intensifying desire to normalize the relationship with Moscow even if it means further undercutting Ukraine.

© Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times

Early voting in Texas, where the outcome of the Senate race could determine which party controls the chamber, will run through Oct. 30.

© Meridith Kohut for The New York Times

The Democratic candidate invoked a rallying cry from the TV show “Friday Night Lights” as he began his final campaign push before the Nov. 3 election.

© LM Otero/Associated Press

Ken Paxton’s bus tour of Texas comes as polls have shown the race for Senate is increasingly close. His rival, James Talarico, is scheduled to kick off a similar tour on Sunday.

© Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

The amount is the most that a Senate candidate has ever raised during that period, his campaign said, eclipsing his opponent in Texas, Ken Paxton.

© Antranik Tavitian for The New York Times

As he seeks to unseat a Republican in Kansas, Adam Hamilton speaks of his work leading the state’s largest church — and making it appealing to nonreligious people.

© Christopher Smith for The New York Times

At a rally in Texas, the vice president suggested the Democratic Senate nominee is gay, a comment criticized as homophobic.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

The execution of James Robertson, who said he deliberately killed another inmate to get on death row, occurred without complications, state officials said.

© Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times, via Reuters

The Democratic nominee for Senate in Texas spent nine days off the trail with what he and his campaign said was a bad case of the flu. His opponents fueled rumors, including one that spread widely before it was debunked.

© Desiree Rios for The New York Times